European Council conclusions on nuclear situation in Japan

European Council conclusions on nuclear situation in Japan

The European Council met on 24 and 25 March. On the Japan nuclear situation it said the following:

Recalling that the energy mix is the competence of Member States, the European Council calls for work to be taken forward as a matter of priority on the following aspects:

- the safety of all EU nuclear plants should be reviewed, on the basis of a comprehensive and transparent risk and safety assessment ("stress tests"); the European Nuclear Safety Regulatory Group (ENSREG) and the Commission are invited to develop as soon as possible the scope and modalities of these tests in a coordinated framework in the light of lessons learned from the accident in Japan and with the full involvement of Member States, making full use of available expertise (notably from the Western European Nuclear Regulators Association); the assessments will be conducted by independent national authorities and through peer review; their outcome and any necessary subsequent measures that will be taken should be shared with the Commission and within the ENSREG and should be made public; the European Council will assess initial findings by the end of 2011, on the basis of a report from the Commission;

- the priority of ensuring the safety of nuclear plants obviously cannot stop at our borders; the EU will request that similar "stress tests" be carried out in the neighbouring countries and worldwide, regarding both existing and planned plants; in this regard full use should be made of relevant international organisations;

- the highest standards for nuclear safety should be implemented and continuously improved in the EU and promoted internationally;

- the Commission will review the existing legal and regulatory framework for the safety of nuclear installations and will propose by the end of 2011 any improvements that may be necessary. Member States should ensure the full implementation of the Directive on the safety of nuclear installations. The proposed Directive on the management of spent
fuel and radioactive waste should be adopted as soon as possible . The Commission is invited to reflect on how to promote nuclear safety in neighbouring countries;

- consequences for the world and for the EU need to be closely monitored, paying particular attention to the volatility of energy and commodity prices, in particular in the context of the G20.

Source: Energy DG newsletter

E10 fuel originates protests in Germany

E10 fuel has 10% biofuels incorporated in the fuel, the goal European Union had for 2020 (currently only 5% biofuel is mandatory).
This fuel was introduced in Germany some weeks ago and it originated a lot of protest because not all engines can burn this fuel.
There are also issues on sustainability related to biofuels. It has not been demonstrated yet that they are not as or more harmful to the environment, specially biofuels that come from palm oil corn and other crops. In a time where food prices are raising due to natural catastrophes and bad crops, we must ask ourselves if this is the right path to reduce energy dependance in fossil fuels.

Biofuel E10 inflames motorists
Germany hosts crisis 'summit' over E10 biofuel

European energy efficiency plan

The European Commission adopted measures for saving energy by creating benefits for households (up to €1000 per household every year), businesses and public authorities.

From the Energy DG newsletter:

Questions & Answers: The Commission's new Energy Efficiency Plan
What is at stake?

Energy savings is one of the most cost effective ways to enhance security of energy supply, and to reduce emissions of greenhouse gas and other pollutants. This is why in 2007, the EU has set itself a target for saving 20 percent of its energy consumption by 2020.

The 20% objective translates into a saving of 368 million tons of oil equivalent (Mtoe) by 2020 compared to projected consumption in that year of 1842 Mtoe. This needs to be achieved by the EU as a whole.

According to the Commission's most recent projections, which take into account measures implemented at national and European level up to the end of December 2009, consumption in 2020 is expected to be 1678 Mtoe, equivalent to a saving of only 9% relative to the previous projection.

Why was so little progress made?

A number of market and regulatory failures are responsible for that:
- Governance: the prominence of energy efficiency has increased in recent years but is still not sufficiently high on policy agendas, the policy mix is often insufficient or too softly worded to address all challenges and in many cases there is poor policy coordination.

- Building sector (residential and commercial buildings): there is still low awareness on the benefits, low mobilisation of the available funds to cover the initial costs, and a lack of the skills required by the buildings workforce.

- Industry: significant improvements have been achieved but energy is not a major concern in many production processes due to low awareness (especially for SMEs) and low availability of funds to cover the initial costs.

What can be done now? What sectors should be targeted?

Current estimates show that the sectors that deserve the highest attention are residential, transport and tertiary with more limited possibilities also available for industry. Major improvements are also needed in the energy transformation sector if the overall 20% target is to be achieved.

Why is there a need for an Energy Efficiency Plan? What about legislative proposals?

The Communication is a strategy paper that sets out ideas for binding measures to save energy. In a few months, legislative proposals with very concrete binding measures will follow.

As regards national energy efficiency targets, the Commission will firstly monitor the implementation of the national energy efficiency targets set in the context of Europe 2020 and check in 2013 whether they will deliver the European 20% objective. If the 2013 review shows that the overall EU target is unlikely to be achieved, the Commission will, at a second stage, consider proposing legally binding national targets for 2020.

What is proposed in the new Energy Efficiency Plan?

The plan focuses on instruments to trigger the renovation process in public and private buildings, to improve the energy performance of the appliances used in them and to foster energy efficiency in households and the industry. The Communication does not cover transport, as a White paper on Transport is due to come out soon.

For the public sector, the EU Commission proposes the following binding measures:
- Public authorities should be required to refurbish at least 3% of their buildings (by area) each year. This is roughly double of the actual renovation rate. Each refurbishment should bring the building up to the level of the best 10% of the national building stock. When public bodies rent or buy existing buildings, these should always be in the best available energy performance class.
- High standards of energy efficiency should systematically be applied when public authorities purchase goods (e.g. office appliances), services (e.g. energy) and works (e.g. refurbishment of buildings). Due to the large volume of public spending (17% of GDP or roughly €2,000 bn and public buildings are about 12% of the EU build up area) it could serve as a strong driver for higher market uptake of energy efficiency and development of the skills and knowledge required

For the private building sector, the EU Commission proposes:
Member States are called upon to introduce measures – in line with national property law - to address the problem of split incentives. This means how the costs of renovation are split between the tenant and the landlord in case of rented buildings and apartments. At the same time, Member States are called on to support the uptake of Energy Service Companies as catalysts for renovation. Energy Service Companies renovate private houses and apartment at their own costs and make profits by receiving the difference between the energy costs before and after the renovation over a defined period of time.

For energy companies, it is proposed:
Energy companies have to enable their customers to cut their energy consumption. This could take different forms. In the UK for example, large electricity and gas suppliers are obliged by law to cut energy consumption of their customers by a pre-defined level. The energy companies pay for new installations in private houses such as double glazing to cut energy. They get their costs back via energy prices. Another model is to ask Energy Service Companies to do the necessary investments.

For the industry, it is proposed:
Large companies have to do regular and independent energy audits. They have to organize these themselves. Member States are encouraged to develop incentives for companies that introduce an energy management system as a systematic framework for the rational use of energy.

Exchange of best practices in energy efficiency and projects aimed at building capacity on energy management are proposed for micro and small companies.

Read more: European Energy Efficiency Plan: Commission gears up for more savings with renovation and smart meters

Labeling energy consumption

Like calories labeling in food, all products could have a label with its energy intake, the daily energy calories or decal. This would give consumers a user-friendly measure with which they could compare products Additionally, this label would create demand out of public awareness, helping investment in energy efficiency innovations and industries.
Read the article: Making every oil calorie count
Check Tesco's policy on labeling carbon and energyCarbon and energy labeling in Tesco

eceee launches web page on the 2011 Energy Efficiency Plan

eceee launches web page on the 2011 Energy Efficiency Plan

China's big plans for energy efficiency

Over the next five years, China plans to introduce new regulatory measures including energy price reform, carbon trading pilots, energy labelling for consumer products and support for energy services companies (ESCOs).
The government also wants to see a four-fold growth in nuclear power (from 10 GW to 40 GW), 63 GW of new hydroelectric power, 48 GW of wind capacity and 5 GW of solar power. But coal generation will continue to provide 260 GW, although its share of China’s energy mix is predicted to fall from 72% to 63%.
Meanwhile, industrial energy efficiency measures will remain and the nation plans to target ‘aggressive growth’ in seven strategic areas including energy efficient products, renewable energy and new technologies like plug-in electric vehicles and LED lighting.

Read the article in the Energy Efficiency News

Is rising oil prices good news?

According to the UK Energy Secretary, rising oil prices transform low carbon economies.

In the medium term, the US Department of Energy forecasts $108 a barrel by 2020. If oil prices continue on this trend, and gas prices rise to meet them, then our consumers will be winning hands down.

However, the plan to move away from fossil fuels stand on measures in the electrical sector (renewable energy, nuclear power and clean coal and gas). In Portugal oil is mainly consumed by the transportation sector, not in electricity generation and checking IEA statistics for the United Kingdom the trend is the same. Maybe the plan needs some adjustments.


Read the article: Rising oil prices transform low carbon economics, says UK Energy Secretary - Energy Efficiency News

Rebound effect

An interesting article in The New York Times about the rebound effect, that is, improved efficiency may lead to higher production and consumption.

While there’s no doubt that fuel-efficient cars burn less gasoline per mile, the lower cost at the pump tends to encourage extra driving. There’s also an indirect rebound effect as drivers use the money they save on gasoline to buy other things that produce greenhouse emissions, like new electronic gadgets or vacation trips on fuel-burning planes.
Some of the biggest rebound effects occur when new economic activity results from energy-efficient technologies that reduce the cost of making products like steel or generating electricity. In some cases, the overall result can be what’s called “backfire”: more energy use than would have occurred without the improved efficiency.

I think energy efficiency is not in itself a solution to all energy problems, but a piece of a puzzle that includes renewables, conventional fuels, awareness and changing consumption patterns (perhaps the most difficult).

Another article about this in The Huffington Post

Top 20 Green Tech Ideas from Time Magazine

Time article about Top 20 Green Tech Ideas:
-Recycling e-Waste
-Algae Biofuel
-Algae food
-Thin-film Solar
-Molten Salt Storage
-Solar Tower
-Custom Biofuels
-Electric Cars
-Smart Meters
-Lithium-ion Batteries
-Fuel Cells
-Rooftop Wind Power
-Tidal Power
-Green IT
-Green Concrete
-Green Building Materials
-Modular Nuclear Power
-Artificial Photosynthesis
-Waste to Energy
-Biochar